Short board or long Board

depends on the wave. i like my 6'2 fish because its not too short to ride on smaller waves but not to long ride on bigger waves.

I prefer my short board now, but when I was just starting definitely a long board or a fun shape. Anything that floats well.

long boards are better i think because you catch more edge on the ocean and its more badass. plus its more timidating to sharks

i have a 7' fun shaped board and it serves me very well

It really depends on how tall/ heavy you are as well as size of the average swell around you. If you are just starting off, I suggest a long, plastic or glass, board that has plenty of foam and is real buoyant. If you happen to be more experienced, sometimes a short board isn't the best way to go. My buddies and I have been surfing for a few years and we all have 6'-6'5 fishes. They are reall buoyant, fast as hell and pretty easy to maneuver.

depends if you want to do sweet maneuvs or catch a wave and just kind of chill  and walk up and down your board.

I'm gonna find out this weekend. I just bought a used 6'4" ron jon rocket fish. I have never surfed even once. was this a bad idea????? I have great balance and have skated for many years when I was younger before I went totally to blading. I've snowboarded before and found it very easy, like I only fell two or three times all night. I just thought I would prefer the better cuts and tricks you can do on a shortboard so I didn't wanna waste time learning on a long board. I thought about trying to build one though from Grain Surfboards outta maine.

I'll be going to delaware so I expect 2-3 foot waves if I'm lucky. I'm about 5'8" and around 150 lbs or so. Wish me luck.

could be pretty hard, but if you work on it you can really learn on any board.
If it's this one:
http://www.ronjons.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MenuGroup=5&SelectedItem=39&Category=surfboards&Page=1&ProductId=1067-0030a
then it seems to be decently wide and thick so you can probably make it work. Still, expect to suck and expect to get thrashed by the waves no matter what board you're on. Stay safe, and out of the way of other surfers and you'll have a ton of fun no matter how you do. good luck!

Yep that's the one, I picked it up used for 125. I definately plan on surfing where no crowds are. I got an orv pass for my truck so we just drive down the beach till there is nobody around. We're also taking our kayaks down to surf in those as well, I just got a playboat(shortboard of kayaks) that is about 6'6" that I can't wait to get in the waves. God I hope I don't drown this weekend. I'll put some pics in here or something when I get back on wednesday.

my boards 3'2, yeah, i bodyboard.

just go with a few friends and learn about rips and how to get out of them and it''ll be a good time. thats sick that you can drive on the beach, can't do that in Jersey. you don't necessarily need to be completely isolated from other surfers either, you could probably learn by observing whoevers out there. Kayaks are sick, I wish I had one to play around with. oh, and not a bad price on the board. have fun

Nice I goofed around with cheap ones from the boardwalk for a year or so until I broke two of em. Last year I actually went to a surf shop and bought a nice one for 75 or so and it's still going strong.


I got a few starter questions on surfing if you guys wouldn't mind going off topic for just a bit.

How important is wax on a surfboard?? The one I bought used has a coat on it already but it doesn't look to thick, I've looked at some videos on it and it looks like they put a pretty good base and top coat on there. Should I worry about stripping it and rewaxxing, or will I be good for my first few days with the little wax that is already on there. I'm also thinking of picking up a stomp/traction pad for the back of it while I'm down there, is this a good idea??

One more, how much does a rashguard shirt or whatever really help?? Will I look like a tool out there if I have one on and I'm flailing all over the place cause I'm a joey?? Or do ya really get sandpapered by the sand on the board or getting trashed on the bottom and a rash shirt is pretty essential.

Any tips some of you surfers could give would be a big help?

Wax isnt super important if your just learning, i use a longboard when im not bodyboarding cause the waves are sloppy and it has had the same wax on for like two years.

And use a rash vest, if your out for long periods you will get a bad rash + it keeps the sun off

I made it sound like you dont need wax in my last comment, you do but not 2 coats, whats on there already will probably do for 1-2 mounths.

cool man thanks for the help.

I pile on more wax every session. I can really tell when I don't too, because I start to slip all over the place and fall. I only take all the wax off when it's starting to get really grimy every few months +. I'd take your bar and put it on top of whats there unless you really feel like cleaning it off and starting fresh. Rub it around in circles by where your feet will be and on the rails so you can hang on to the board. Cover a large area because if you're learning you'll probably be all over the place when you stand up.